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GELD Warns: Beware 'The Utility Green Dot Scam' - Fraudulent Use of Caller ID

Groton Electric Light Department Manager Kevin Kelly advises residents about a scam involving customers of a number of municipal light departments, and stressed that although nothing has occurred in Groton he wants to make residents aware of how this scam operates.

According to Kelly, "Electric customers are actively being targeted by something known as the Utility Green Dot Scam. This is a scam that has cropped up in a number of locations across the country and appears to target utility customers. Here are the specifics:

• Caller tells customer their power will be turned off in 45 minutes if they do not make an immediate payment (usually $500 - $1,500).

• Caller tells customer that payment will only be accepted through the purchase of a Green Dot pre-paid debit card.  (GELD would never require anything like this)

• Caller provides customer with a number to call to make payment once they have purchased the Green Dot card.

• Once the customer provides the Green Dot payment info, their money is gone.

Reports from other areas of the country indicate the scammers are sophisticated enough that they are able to screen their number on Caller ID so that it appears as though the local utility really is calling."

Kelly recommends, "The safest thing to do is if you have any doubts that a call is from us, hang up and call us back at 978-448-1150, especially if you hear something similar to what is written above."

Groton Herald

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 610, Groton, Massachusetts 01450
 

Office
145 Main Street, Groton, Massachusetts 014510
[Prescott Community Center]
 

Telephone: 978-448-6061
 

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